I am a scientist having retired five years ago from a very senior position with responsibilities of international activities. That made me travel throughout the world for more than 40 times and see different cultures and work ethics around the globe. Nonetheless, I am and remained althrough like a simple minded Indian with somewhat broader outlook. As a fellow Indian, I would like to narrate my experience (and views) related to the theme of the question and various comments offered by learned members before me.
As most others here, I have always found Indian women smoking freely anywhere or in the company of men very obnoxious and utterly dislike heart-in-heart. On the other hand, I can easily accept similar things by European ladies in Europe as quite normal. I am also never moved when I meet male smokers anywhere even though I subscribe to the adage 'Smoking is injurious to health', For me smoking or not is a matter of personal choice and I would never like to obstruct someone's personal liberty on moral grounds.
Having said, I may now tell that many years ago, I worked for the British Council in India where almost all staff including very senior ones like me were all Indians, except the top boss a few others as expats. Like most other international organisations, British Council maintains a very high standard of work ethics with equal emphasis on gender, human rights etc. It maintained a totally non-smoking environment within the office premises. But it was free for all during occasional parties in the lawns with drinks flowing freely. Everyone who wanted to smoke, smoked freely irrespective of gender but that was in the parties in the lawn below.
As a male with typical Indian background and upbringing, I got my first shock when I saw several of my senior female colleagues smoking during office hours close to me. I had never seen such things before and found it hard to believe and accept. Gradually, I realised that I was in a special place and the Indian ladies I was in the company of were elite and from very advanced families and the organisation in which we were standing stands for 'personal liberty' to all human being irrespective of gender, cast, creed etc. Since the office had a policy to maintain a strict non-smoking area, all those who got urge to smoke or otherwise need a break would simply get up from their seats and go outside the glass in open corridor or balconies. We could see off and on someone (male or female) standing outside the glass and taking the smoke. It did not appear odd any longer. In fact, I used to join them quite often for a chat, since it was easy to converse during those moments.
In such atmosphere and culture, offering a smoke represented 'courtesy' and nothing else. It was between male and female, Indian and British, senior and junior - no questions, no tags!
In Indian situation - of course, we need long debates and diversity of views! Don't we?